Moscow/Washington: Amid rising tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov initiated a rare diplomatic call to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio late on June 1 to discuss potential peace talks. The outreach came shortly after Ukraine launched a dramatic string of attacks deep inside Russian territory, rattling key airbases and intensifying the already volatile situation.
According to the U.S. State Department, the call was held at Moscow’s request and focused on reviving diplomatic negotiations.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, at Russia’s request. Secretary Rubio reiterated President (Donald) Trump’s call for continued direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to achieve a lasting peace,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in an official statement.
In a separate statement, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the two officials exchanged views on proposals to resume peace negotiations in Istanbul. “The situation linked to the Ukraine crisis was discussed,” the ministry noted, adding that “SV Lavrov and M Rubio also exchanged views on various initiatives concerning a settlement of the Ukraine crisis, including plans to resume direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on June 2.”
The Russian side also revealed that Rubio conveyed condolences over two tragic incidents in Russian regions bordering Ukraine, where bridges collapsed due to reported sabotage. Authorities said at least seven people were killed and 69 injured in the twin incidents on Saturday.
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Escalation Sparks Urgent Diplomacy
The high-level diplomatic engagement followed Ukraine’s large-scale covert operation — codenamed Operation Spider’s Web — which saw drones concealed in civilian vehicles deployed deep into Russian territory. The strikes reportedly targeted strategic airfields in eastern Siberia, a significant escalation in Ukraine’s military capabilities and reach.
In retaliation, Russia launched one of its most extensive drone and missile offensives on Kyiv in recent months. The reciprocal attacks underscored the fragility of the situation just days ahead of the proposed Istanbul peace talks.
Multiple unconfirmed reports indicated that Ukraine’s strikes damaged over 40 Russian aircraft, including long-range Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, both capable of delivering nuclear and conventional payloads, as well as an A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft.
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In a series of posts on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the operation and detailed the extensive planning behind it.
“Today, a brilliant operation was carried out — on enemy territory, targeting only military objectives, specifically the equipment used to strike Ukraine. Russia suffered significant losses, entirely justified and deserved,” he posted.
He added, “The preparation took over a year and a half. Planning, organisation, and every detail were perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was a unique operation.”
With the battlefield heating up and diplomatic channels cautiously reopening, the coming days in Istanbul may prove pivotal in determining whether de-escalation is possible — or if both sides are digging in for an even more intense phase of the war.
